Hundreds more people surviving heart failure, independent study finds

Hundreds more people surviving heart failure, independent study finds Improvements in patient care mean hundreds more people are surviving heart failure, a new independent study has found.

A report published today has found that the mortality rate for people admitted to hospital with heart failure has dropped from 9.6 per cent to 8.9 per cent. The reduction in the mortality rate means that in the region of 500 lives have been saved in the past year compared to 2014/15.

An assessment of patients admitted to hospital with heart failure at NHS Trusts also shows that more people are being provided with crucial medicines for heart disease as well as greater access to treatment by heart specialists. Acute heart failure is a life threatening condition, which as well as immediate danger to life can have significant long-term consequences for people. Tackling heart failure is becoming a more significant challenge for the NHS due to the ageing population. NHS England

See also:

• National Heart Failure Audit report British Society of Heart Failure 
• Hundreds more surviving heart failure in hospital, study shows BBC News
• Number of people who survive heart failure increase by 500 Daily Mail

Shortage of doctors and midwives putting lives at risk – report

Shortage of doctors and midwives putting lives at risk – report Lack of trained obstetricians is worrying, experts say, because of high risk of serious complications during and after birth.

Childbirth experts have warned that mothers’ and babies’ lives in Britain are being put at risk after an NHS inquiry into its maternity services uncovered serious shortages of doctors and midwives in maternity units.

Almost nine out of 10 (88%) units are struggling to recruit enough middle-grade doctors to ensure proper staffing levels, according to an unprecedented in-depth NHS audit of childbirth services across Britain. The Guardian

Labour criticises government hospital asset sales

Labour criticises government hospital asset sales Labour has accused the government of selling off valuable hospital assets to help plug a hole in NHS finances.

Figures from data body NHS Digital show that the amount of NHS land in England earmarked for sale has more than doubled in the past year. BBC News

News story: 1,500 extra medical undergraduate places confirmed

News story: 1,500 extra medical undergraduate places confirmed The department has published the government response to the recent consultation on expanding undergraduate medical education.

The government will increase the number of student places at medical schools in England by 1,500.

From next year, existing medical schools will be able to offer an extra 500 places to future doctors. Another 1,000 places will be allocated across the country, based on an open bidding process. Department of Health on Gov.UK

• More medical school training places welcome - in parallel with efforts to build GP workforce Royal College of General Practitioners

Successful first event for new group tackling loneliness and isolation in Wellingborough

Successful first event for new group tackling loneliness and isolation in Wellingborough A new group launched to tackle the problem of loneliness and isolation among the elderly has held its first friendship group. Wellingborough Evening Telegraph